The Houston Dynamo not only had to spend the week getting used to being without longtime teammate Brian Mullan, but they also began to get to know a new face in Colin Clark when he joined the team for the weekend on Friday. The Dynamo traded Mullan for another winger with U.S. national team experience, who joins the club from the Colorado Rapids.

“It’s weird to come out to the field and not see [Mullan],” Dynamo forward Brian Ching said. “You know it is going to happen at some point in your career, but it’s tough. Our careers have been aligned since he’s gotten into the league, and he’s been a part of pretty much all my favorite goals or memories with the Dynamo. He epitomizes what the Dynamo stand for, and he will be sorely missed.”

You'd be hard pushed to find a former Dynamo teammate more respected than Mullan.

“I don’t know that Colorado knows what they got right now,” Eddie Robinson said. “It will probably take a few training sessions and games to know they got something special.”

Robinson and Ching spoke highly of Mullan’s contributions to the team’s championship runs. Mullan’s clinching goal against the Colorado Rapids in the 2006 Western Conference final remains a favorite moment for much of the Dynamo staff.

As for the team’s newest acquisition, Clark was in town Friday morning to continue his rehab from his second ACL tear. The midfielder vows the injury will not hold him back.

“I'll be back, absolutely,” Clark said. “It's always nice to have confidence from your coach, especially being injured and having him trade for me.”

Clark was also happy to be joining the Dynamo organization.

“It's a great organization, great team, a great coach and that's huge,” Clark said. “I definitely know about the two championships and great fan support – they love the team here in Houston.”

For Clark’s new teammates, they are looking forward to his contributions next year.

“He’s a great kid and tremendously talented going forward,” said Ching, who was teammates with Clark on the 2009 U.S. Gold Cup squad. “I am excited, as I think he’s a big talent, and he’s someone Dom [Kinnear] has been looking at for a long time.”

Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.